A royal ride

Two aircraft, which belong to King Mohammad VI of Morocco, have been waiting at Mumbai airport for a few days.

The Moroccan king, who was in New Delhi to attend the recently-concluded India-Africa summit, was the first guest to arrive with a 400-member delegation in the country on October 25.

After the summit, the king along with his royal luggage and associates arrived in the city on October 30, and ever since, his airliners are seen parked at the Mumbai airbase. Most of his entourage, which comprised his cars, kitchen essentials, royal bed and what not, were taken to his homeland yesterday by a Lockheed C- 130 Hercules.

The monarch, who was also supposed to leave on November 3, will depart today by a Gulfstream G550 aircraft. The reason for his prolonged stay could be his wish to get a first hand feel of India or his significant interest in the economy running under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.